Saying Goodbye to Sukhumvit Soi 24

I have been here in BKK (Bangkok) for nearly 3 months. And if plans go the way they are intended, I'll be back in May and remain until December. But plans change. So I took pause today to close out this visit, taking some pictures of what I saw each and every day from my apartment - Oakwood, Sukhumvit Soi 24.

Every day I walk out under the sign and head up the street (Soi). Get my daily ration of grilled chicken with chili sauce, walk up the stairs to the BTS (Sky Train) 15,16,16 steps, then down the same on the other side of Sukhumvit - main road in Bangkok).

I got used to the routine. Living in a 3 room apartment. If you look close at the pic on the left, my apartment is the one with the curtains open in the middle - 4th window down from the top on the far right. I didn't have much of a view. When (if) I return in May I was promised a room on the top floor. That will give me a better view and no water-boarding at night by the AC unit.




If you asked me now do I want to stay longer, the answer would be NO - or Mai Chai in Thai. But I will miss this place. It has been interesting living alone, going to work each day, learning a new language and trying to keep connected with home. I've learned to value the Buddhist view about life. That being stay in the middle, relax, know that everything passes and enjoy the moment for what it offers. And if you are of the belief that nothing happens by chance, then my 3 months here was for a purpose and lets hope I learned whatever it was that I was supposed to learn.














I went up to the 8th floor of my apartment building - I'd never been there before. There is a swimming pool and a great view of the Emporium shopping Center.


But the heat was oppressive - there was no one there and I understood why. So I took these pics then quickly retreated to my apartment.







I wanted to take a pic of the staff here at Oakwood, so I could remember them. Each one had become like family over the 3 months I was here. The gentleman on the left is the person who manages my wake up calls in the AM. With a hectic schedule I've found it necessary to have a call in the AM. Note to self - buy an alarm clock for my return visit.




And a farewell to the spirits that guard Oakwood Sukhumvit Soi 24.